Advice and Tools
For every step of your Ostomy Journey
SASS aims to advocate and align the standard of Stoma care and services across South Africa which will be applicable to both the private and public sectors.
Ostomy Care
Tips and Tricks
The South African Society of Stomates (SASS) is a Non-profit organization formed by Ostomates across Southern Africa to facilitate a “holistic” approach to ostomy patient care by bridging the gap between the private and public sectors whilst advocating for the rights of fellow ostomates throughout the country.
SASS VALUE STATEMENT
SASS is dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of ostomates across South Africa. We strive to bridge the gap between private and public healthcare sectors, ensuring that all ostomates receive the highest standard of care.
Our mission is to provide comprehensive support, education, and resources to empower ostomates and their families, helping them navigate their new normal with confidence and dignity. By collaborating closely with clinicians and healthcare professionals, we ensure that our community receives expert care and guidance.
Aligning with global standards set by The International Ostomy Association (IOA), we aim to foster a community where every ostomate feels supported, informed, and valued.
Featured Topics
For Living with a Colostomy, Ileostomy or Urostomy
Help us achieve
What we set out to achieve with YOUR help
GET EDUCATED
Medically reviewed surgery-specific information. Making sure you have access to the best possible care. Ostomy pouch management tips, diet & nutrition, skincare, sexuality, travel tips and more!
FEEL SUPPORTED
Support to you & your family whilst you transition into your new normal. You will have access to a local peer support group, where you can get answers to questions, or connect with our Facebook community.
BE AN ADVOCATE
We aim to advocate the standard of Stoma care across private and public sectors, whilst aligning with the global standards set out by The International Ostomy Association (IOA).
Meet Our Featured Speaker | CNS Jolanda Janse van Noordwyk
The South African Society of Stomates (SASS) is honored to welcome - CNS Jolanda Janse van Noordwyk, Founder of Imani Stoma and Wound Care Private Clinic’s, Stoma therapist and Advanced Wound Care Specialist, to the SASS 2026 National Conference.
An internationally recognized Stomaltherapy & AWC Nurse, WCET Contributor, Educator, and pioneer of the first Pediatric Stomaltherapy and Gastrostomy Clinic with Surgeons for Little Lives, in Gauteng. She has dedicated her career to advancing patient care, education, and clinical excellence.
Presentation:
NPWT in the complicated open abdominal wound, managing fistulas as functioning ostomy, and ostomy as mucous fistula.
Join CNS Jolanda Janse van Noordwyk as she explores indications for NPWT in stoma-related wounds, NPWT around functioning stomas, Techniques to prevent leakage of exudate and effluent, managing fistulas and open abdominal wounds with stomas in a multidisciplinary team, Common complications and how to avoid them, Case based demonstrations. Differentiation between enterocutaneous fistula and entero- atmospheric fistula.
2–3 October 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Woodstock, Cape Town
Register today: www.sass2026.co.za
#SASS2026 #StrongerTogether #ColorectalCancer #CancerAdvocacy #GlobalColonCancerAssociation #HealthcareLeadership #PatientCentredCare #CancerAwareness #HealthcareInnovation #SouthAfrica
Meet Our Featured Speaker | CNS Liezl Naudé
The South African Society of Stomates (SASS) is honored to welcome - Liezl Naudé, Clinical Nurse Specialist from Pretoria to the SASS 2026 National Conference.
A distinguished AWC Specialist, researcher, & internationally recognized key opinion leader, renowned for her commitment to advancing evidence-based wound care, education, and clinical excellence. Founder of Eloquent Health & Wellness, Eloquent Learning Health Academy, Founding member and past President of WHASA, she continues to shape the future of wound management through research, innovation, and professional leadership.
Presentation:
Advanced Wound & Peristomal Wound Assessment Tools. Identifying surgical, dermatological and systemic red flags.
Join CNS Liezl Naudé as she explores differentiating MASD, contact dermatitis, infection, pressure injury, atypical wounds, etc., in the peristomal area and how does it differ from wound beds. When to escalate - recognizing and identifying dermatological or systemic red flags.
2–3 October 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Woodstock, Cape Town
Register today: www.sass2026.co.za
#SASS2026 #StrongerTogether #ColorectalCancer #CancerAdvocacy #GlobalColonCancerAssociation #HealthcareLeadership #PatientCentredCare #CancerAwareness #HealthcareInnovation #SouthAfrica
Meet Our Featured Speaker | Ms. @msjearleantaylor
The South African Society of Stomates (SASS) is honored to welcome – Ms. Jearlean Taylor, Accomplished Fashion Model, Author, & Double Ostomate from the state of Maryland in the USA to the SASS 2026 National Conference.
A cancer survivor, international ostomy advocate, author, fashion model and public speaker from Maryland, USA, living with permanent colostomy and urostomy since childhood. Through her powerful personal journey, she inspires the ostomy community by sharing a message of hope, resilience and possibility—proving that life’s challenges do not have to define what you can achieve.
Presentation:
From Complications to Confidence: The Nurse`s role in my Ostomy Journey.
Join Ms. Jearlean Taylor as she explores how she used to say, “why me? Why cancer, why ostomy bags?” Now I say, “why not me?” …….. Because you have life difficulties doesn’t mean you can’t make it.
My life’s motto, “WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE”!
2–3 October 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Woodstock, Cape Town
Register today: www.sass2026.co.za
#SASS2026 #StrongerTogether #ColorectalCancer #CancerAdvocacy #GlobalColonCancerAssociation #HealthcareLeadership #PatientCentredCare #CancerAwareness #HealthcareInnovation #SouthAfrica
Don`t miss out, 6 weeks to go; register now!
Register today - www.sass.2026.co.za
#StomaNurseExcellenceAwards #SASS2026 #StrongerTogether #StomaNurse #OstomyCare #NursingExcellence #PatientCare #HealthcareHeroes #CompassionInCare #SouthAfrica #ostomychallenge #ostomyevent #sassconference
Meet Our Featured Speaker | Dr. Daniel Surridge
The South African Society of Stomates (SASS) is honored to welcome – Dr. Daniel Surridge, to the SASS 2026 National Conference.
Head of Joburg Colorectal Unit, former Head of Colorectal Surgery Unit at CHBAH and internationally recognized for his award-winning research, academic excellence, and leadership in advancing colorectal surgery.
Presentation:
Modern Colorectal Surgical Techniques and their impact on post-operative Nursing Care
Join Dr. Daniel Surridge as he explores laparoscopic, robotic-assisted, transanal total meso-rectal excision (TaTME), and future trends – resulting in lower rates of complications and enhanced QOL, especially with regards to mitigating the parastomal hernia with extra-peritoneal tunneling techniques.
2–3 October 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Woodstock, Cape Town
Register today: www.sass2026.co.za
#SASS2026 #StrongerTogether #ColorectalCancer #CancerAdvocacy #GlobalColonCancerAssociation #HealthcareLeadership #PatientCentredCare #CancerAwareness #HealthcareInnovation #SouthAfrica
Meet Our Featured Speaker | CNS PHD© Zhavandre Van Der Merwe
The South African Society of Stomates (SASS) is honored to welcome - CNS PHD© Zhavandre van der Merwe, Clinical Nurse Specialist and PHI Candidate, to the SASS 2026 National Conference.
A PhD candidate at Murdoch University, Australia, and President of WHASA, with > 14 years of expertise in AWC. A respected clinician, researcher, educator, and international speaker, she is dedicated to advancing evidence-based practice and improving outcomes for patients with complex wounds. Infection, Biofilm and Inflammation Control.
Presentation:
Infection, Biofilm & Inflammation control. Mastering the invisible barriers to healing.
Join CNS PHD© Zhavandre van der Merwe as she explores how to identify local versus systemic infections in new international guidelines. Nursing decision-making wrt wound swabs and antimicrobial stuartship. Recognizing and managing biofilm in wounds, what is the difference between antiseptic and antimicrobial dressings: evidence-based use. Preventing recurrent infection in high-risk patients.
When to use saline, PHMB, HCOL, Iodine, etc., and when to stop!
2–3 October 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Woodstock, Cape Town
Register today: www.sass2026.co.za
#SASS2026 #StrongerTogether #ColorectalCancer #CancerAdvocacy #GlobalColonCancerAssociation #HealthcareLeadership #PatientCentredCare #CancerAwareness #HealthcareInnovation #SouthAfrica
Meet Our Featured Speaker | CNS Laura Obbes
The South African Society of Stomates (SASS) is honored to welcome – CNS Laura Obbes, to the SASS 2026 National Conference.
A highly respected and internationally recognized Stomaltherapy and AWC Practitioner from Namibia, International Delegate for the WCET, Founder of Stoma Care Namibia & the Purple Dot Project, dedicated to advancing patient-centered ostomy care, who will be discussing Combining Ostomy and Wound Care in Colorectal Health.
🎤 Presentation:
Managing Complex Colorectal Patients: The Role of Integrated Stoma and Wound care
Join CNS Laura Obbes as she explores the difference in management of peristomal wounds to wound management of the surgical incision, drain sites, & dressing selection in a reduced space. Pre-operative counseling, why marking/ siting is vital to reduce future complications, facilitate all possible body movements, and why promoting early self-care is essential in an MDT approach.
📅 2–3 October 2026
📍 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Woodstock, Cape Town
🔗 Register today: www.sass2026.co.za
#SASS2026 #StrongerTogether #ColorectalCancer #CancerAdvocacy #GlobalColonCancerAssociation #HealthcareLeadership #PatientCentredCare #CancerAwareness #HealthcareInnovation #SouthAfrica
SASS Blog
What has been happening at SASS
SASS Stoma Nurse Excellence Awards 2026
Honouring Nurses Who Change Lives Behind every ostomate’s journey is often a nurse who made an impossible moment feel manageable.A nurse who provided dignity during uncertainty.A nurse who offered reassurance, compassion, education, and hope. The SASS Stoma Nurse Excellence Awards were created to recognise and celebrate stoma nurses who go above and beyond in supporting […]
SASS2026 Conference: Multidisciplinary Ostomy Care Conference in South Africa
The South African Society of Ostomates (SASS) will host the SASS2026 Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cape Town, bringing together healthcare professionals involved in the care and rehabilitation of people living with a stoma. The conference is designed as a multidisciplinary clinical platform, supporting knowledge-sharing across nursing, physiotherapy, biokinetics, dietetics, occupational therapy, and […]
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SASS Is Proudly Supported By
